...talks about how UConn hasn't been in contact and how they're out. (HT: UMHoops)
Michigan-Alabama In Dallas In 2012
You probably dismissed the idea of Michigan playing a huge nonconference game against Alabama in two years in Jerryworld as crackpot rumor-mongering of the sort the internet specializes in. Michigan's on the road against ND, leaving a maximum of six home games, it's transparently silly to play a college football game thousands of miles from either college, and Michigan hasn't played a neutral-site OOC game basically ever. It seemed instantly implausible.
But apparently it is happening. The contract is being signed Monday. Which is tomorrow.
The following details are unconfirmed but of interest since they come from an established source:
- Game is happening because a desperate Jerry Jones "overpaid."
- Michigan will be the nominal home team (important mostly for TV rights) and receive more money.
- There's no additional game scheduled and there may not be.
- Jones might be well-positioned to provide some advice on HD scoreboards.
This comes with a set of crazy conflicting emotions. Hurray awesome nonconference game, boo that it's in fricking Dallas in a corporate death star of an NFL stadium and not a home-and-home in Ann Arbor and Tuscaloosa. I guess that's what it takes for a lot of actual nonconference games to get done these days, but awesomeness of trip to Dallas to see M play 'Bama <<<<<< awesomeness of M-Bama home-and-home. On the other hand, awesomeness of M-Bama Dallas >>>>>>> awesomeness of M-BGSU anywhere.
[Note on sourcing: in this case I am going with one source, but he is a very established one.]
August 8th, 2010 at 11:36 AM | 
Whoah
Whoah
August 8th, 2010 at 11:39 AM |
Scholarship
Scholarship
Scholarship death-match!!
If Michigan wins, Alabama should be held to 10 recruits the following year.
If Alabama wins, we're allowed to oversign by 17!
August 8th, 2010 at 11:40 AM |
Haters gonna hate.
Haters gonna hate.
This is gonna be awesome exposure and a great game to see. I don't know why there seems to be a feeling of hatred toward it being in Dallas.
"Urban Meyer has really put a strong wall of recruitment around the state of Ohio. No leaks anywhere." -Nobody
August 8th, 2010 at 1:11 PM |
have you ever been to Dallas?
have you ever been to Dallas?
It sucks, although not as bad as Houston does. A friend of mine said of Dallas "this city has no f---ing face."
August 8th, 2010 at 11:40 AM |
hahaha yes
hahaha yes
as long as RR gets through this season, Michigan will be LOADED going into that game
August 8th, 2010 at 11:56 AM |
A team led by senior captains
A team led by senior captains
A team led by senior captains Denard and Roh will be awesome.
August 8th, 2010 at 9:36 PM |
I tend to agree. By 2012,
I tend to agree. By 2012,
I tend to agree. By 2012, Michigan will be flying high. And I mean literally flying. Our team speed will be so fast that our players will be getting lift.
Get ready to roll over, Bama.
August 8th, 2010 at 11:42 AM |
Wow
Wow
Just wow. Should be an epic game.
HAIL.
August 8th, 2010 at 11:42 AM |
So I'm interested in what
So I'm interested in what
So I'm interested in what Jerry Jones is paying.
If Michigan regularly rakes in > $5.5M in attendance, parking and concessions (averaging $50 per 109,000 seats, anyone know the actual numbers?) for a home game, what are they getting to play down there?
What would make it profitble? Will it be more profitable than a BGSU game? If not, then kudos to the AD for not being money mongering whores.
CoE Class of 2007
August 8th, 2010 at 8:45 PM |
The question is a neutral
The question is a neutral
The question is a neutral game against Alabama plus a home game against a MAC team will make you more money than a home and away against Alabama? Remember they will have an open spot the second year. Since J. Jones will overpay to get them there, I think they will at least make the same amount of money.
August 8th, 2010 at 11:48 AM |
West Coast
West Coast
Aside from the upcoming Rose Bowls, this is the closest Blue will get to us West Coast fans. I like it.
----umhannon
August 8th, 2010 at 11:49 AM |
Hate this, hate this, hate this
Hate this, hate this, hate this
I love that they're playing a real game, but why do it in a neutral field that's no where near either campus? They'll be no students at the game from either school, and there will be maybe 20k fans from each school. Traveling in September is a lot harder for anybody with kids in school than traveling for a bowl game. I'd almost rather see them play BGSU at home than watch them play in a half empty stadium halfway across the country. Almost. At least they could do it in a city that's interesting to visit.
Jones overpaid? That's gotta be what, 4 or 5 million for each team? Is he really gonna break even on that game? How expensive will the tickets have to be?
August 8th, 2010 at 11:52 AM |
There is absolutely no way
There is absolutely no way
There is absolutely no way that Alamaba-Michigan, in Dallas, in September, will be played in front of a half-full stadium. That place will be sold out in .37 milliseconds.
Michigan-Alabama, in any stadium, at any time of the year will sell out lightning fast.
August 8th, 2010 at 12:22 PM |
If both teams are good, then
If both teams are good, then
If both teams are good, then it'll sell out. Otherwise, it'll be a half-full stadium. There won't be enough people willing to travel to see a blowout (either way) or see two average teams flail around.
August 8th, 2010 at 12:32 PM |
Even if Michigan is average
Even if Michigan is average
Even if Michigan is average it still has the largest living alumni base in the country. Also you don't think that Bama fans won't buy up all those tickets even if Michigan doesn't. You severely underestimate "TEH SEC RULEZ" fans
" I want to win Big 10 titles. Multiply. Consecutively. I just made that word up (multiply). I'm like that. I'm good at Scrabble."
August 8th, 2010 at 2:31 PM |
I hear you guys, but neutral
I hear you guys, but neutral
I hear you guys, but neutral site games are really tricky. The annual game in Atlanta is between ACC and SEC teams, so it's a relatively short trip. Dallas is just a long way from either school. The old Kickoff Classic games always seemed to have lots of empty seats.
I hope my feelings don't matter and Michigan is coming off of a great 2011.
August 8th, 2010 at 4:47 PM |
Really?
Really?
I'd guess they could sell 80,000 tickets for this match if they played it in Paris (France, not Texas) so filling Jerry World shouldn't be too much of a problem.
,
August 8th, 2010 at 6:11 PM |
how does M have the largest
how does M have the largest
how does M have the largest living alumni base in the country? wouldnt the university with the largest enrollment for the last 20-30 years or so have the largest living alumni base in the country? unless if you go to M and you learn the secret of immortality while you are here, then ok, I believe you then
Soon to be the #1 fitness and training center in AA
August 8th, 2010 at 7:12 PM |
Well
Well
Having been through 2 Next Step Meetings, Campus Day, and Orientation in the last few months I can assure you that in atleast one point of every slide show they mention that UM has the largest living alumni base.
EEB c/o 2014
August 8th, 2010 at 7:21 PM |
An alumnus is a graduate of a
An alumnus is a graduate of a
An alumnus is a graduate of a school, not just a former student. People graduate from Michigan at a much higher rate than people do at OSU and all the other schools that are larger.
August 8th, 2010 at 9:42 PM |
Actually, an alumnus can be a
Actually, an alumnus can be a
Actually, an alumnus can be a person who has attended or has graduated.
Main Entry: alum·nus
Pronunciation: \ə-ˈləm-nəs\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural alum·ni \-ˌnī\
Etymology: Latin, foster son, pupil, from alere to nourish — more at old
Date: 1645
1 : a person who has attended or has graduated from a particular school, college, or university
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alumnus
The Team, The Team, The Team.
August 8th, 2010 at 10:40 PM |
it blows my mind how often
it blows my mind how often
it blows my mind how often you must be on this site to accrue over 18000 mgopoints
Soon to be the #1 fitness and training center in AA
August 9th, 2010 at 9:08 AM |
...
...
wouldn't the university with the largest enrollment for the last 20-30 years or so have the largest living alumni base in the country?
Well, yes, if you only count people under the age of 50-something! People do actually live longer than that. As of 2009, Michigan's 460,000 living alumni outnumbered, for example, Ohio State's 425,000, even though OSU's 53,000 current students in Columbus outnumber M's 42,000 in Ann Arbor.
It is true, however, that the Alumni Association has very recently ratcheted down the claim about the number of living alumni from "the largest" base to "one of the largest" -- a sign of the times.
August 8th, 2010 at 12:39 PM |
That game will sell out if
That game will sell out if
That game will sell out if Michigan goes 0-12 in 2011. It'll be the first game of the season. Optimism for two storied programs will be high, no matter what happens the year before. This game will be a sell out the second tickets go on sale. And there won't be an empty/unused seat in the house.
August 8th, 2010 at 8:26 PM |
Alabama fans will travel to
Alabama fans will travel to
Alabama fans will travel to freaking Vabderbilt if they can get tickets. And I hope tp goodness we would hold up our end.
August 8th, 2010 at 12:42 PM |
I'm so there.
I'm so there.
I don't know where I'll be in 2012, but I'm going to start saving now.
You'll be better and you'll be smarter and more grown-up and a better daughter. . .
August 9th, 2010 at 11:38 AM |
I'm sure many of the people
I'm sure many of the people
I'm sure many of the people on this board would be happy to take you.
/creepy
I'm a cucumber. | Twitter
August 8th, 2010 at 7:57 PM |
I'll be there.
I'll be there.
I live about 5 hours from big D so you can damn sure bet that I will be there. The closest they ever get to me is either in Iowa or Ill which are both about 8 or 9 hours from here. A2 is 17 or so hours so I love the sound of a 5 hour drive.
Oh how I hate Ohio State
August 8th, 2010 at 11:53 AM |
"but why do it in a neutral
"but why do it in a neutral
"but why do it in a neutral field that's no where near either campus?"
One word: Money. If Jerry Jones overpaid, I'm guessing both schools will be making a lot of money. Keeping in mind that both of these schools could schedule a Baby Seal and still sell out their stadiums, I'm guessing it's a lot of money for both schools.
August 8th, 2010 at 11:51 AM |
Freaking awesome
Freaking awesome
I love high-end, cross-sectional nonconference games, a la the Texas-OSU home-and-home a few years back. If we improve over the next two years the way a lot of us think we will, that game has a chance to be phenomenal.
If we don't improve the way we expect to ... yikes. But at this point I'm far more excited for a great matchup than nervous about a butt-whupping.
De gustibus non est disputandum
August 8th, 2010 at 11:51 AM |
wow
wow
Brandon = thinking outside the box in multiple dimensions.
Not sure how I feel personally about a neutral site - (hell, if it had to be one I'd prefer NYC, so as to be close to the olive oil import and export business) - but as Socrates put it, it's all about the benjamins.....
No radio. Nothing of value.
August 8th, 2010 at 11:55 AM |
NYC vs Dallas
NYC vs Dallas
Texas is one of the top recruiting states in the country. Hopefully in two years UM will be back where we expect them to be - a fixture in the Top 10/Top 15. This will be a great opportunity to get a ton of exposure for UM in front of all the Texas high school recruits.
August 8th, 2010 at 11:58 AM |
Awesome
Awesome
This game can be used as a recruiting tool in the southwest. Plus the hype going into the game will be ludicrous and will be like a pre-season bowl. Despite the cons, I loves me some this.
This might also indicate some bullishness on Brandon's part, he's got to see how strong a foundation Rich Rod has laid down over the last couple recruiting cycles. Sprinkle in a little bit of victory mojo and kaBlammo!
In short, WOOT!
August 8th, 2010 at 11:55 AM |
See
See
See you guys there.
August 8th, 2010 at 11:57 AM |
This is Crazy
This is Crazy
I'm happy because, if I'm still in West Texas, I'm going to that game. I'm angry because I'd still rather have Michigan play a home-and-home. We must be getting a buttload of money to do this.
We better win. Start the season at the Cotton Bowl, end it at the Rose Bowl. 2012. Make it happen, Blue.
August 8th, 2010 at 12:01 PM |
Think we'll be playing 9
Think we'll be playing 9
Think we'll be playing 9 conference games by then? Probably not. But if we are... that schedule is going to be brutal (I guess with 8, it's still going to be brutal). At Notre Dame. vs. Alabama. at Ohio State. home for MSU, Wisconsin. Maybe Nebraska?
August 8th, 2010 at 12:01 PM |
The year after I'm due to move out of here...
The year after I'm due to move out of here...
Plz move to 2011. kthnxbai.
August 8th, 2010 at 12:03 PM |
Night game? Something like
Night game? Something like
Night game? Something like the Kick-Off Classic games they play in the Georgia Dome?
August 8th, 2010 at 12:17 PM |
yeah
yeah
That's what I'm assuming. ABC primetime on opening weekend.
August 8th, 2010 at 6:20 PM |
YEP
YEP
this thing has abc 8pm with musbergers drool written all over it
August 8th, 2010 at 12:11 PM |
Mark Ingram will be gone.
Mark Ingram will be gone.
Mark Ingram will be gone. Bama will probably be replacing their starting QB. Michigan should have a ton of leadership and hopefully RR gets the team going by then. Could be a coming out party for a national contender. Or a we could be in the midst of another transition. But I'm excited about this.
For a' that, an' a' that,
Our toils obscure an' a' that,
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The man's the gowd for a' that.
Our toils obscure an' a' that,
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The man's the gowd for a' that.
August 8th, 2010 at 12:16 PM |
.
.
Richardson will be just as good if not better than Ingram.
"Urban Meyer has really put a strong wall of recruitment around the state of Ohio. No leaks anywhere." -Nobody
August 8th, 2010 at 12:49 PM |
As will our fast,
As will our fast,
As will our fast, EXPERIENCED, and nasty defense.
August 8th, 2010 at 10:25 PM |
He'll probably leave after his junior season
He'll probably leave after his junior season
But either way, I'm sure Saban will have a stud back, he always does. That is if Saban is still around by then.
http://twitter.com/#!/JHScramble
August 8th, 2010 at 12:11 PM |
MGoSection
MGoSection
Obviously it's early to be thinking about this, but would anyone be interested in trying to buy a block of tickets to create MGoSection?
This will be a huge game and I fully plan on going, I'm sure others will. Since I don't think I'll be able to go with my usual football friends, maybe it would be a good time to meet up with some MGoUsers and watch it together.
At the very least we can have MGoTailgate.
Note: "MGo..." makes any phrase better.
August 9th, 2010 at 11:03 AM |
Love To!
Love To!
My wife and I are already planning on being there. I can most likely get my 2 brothers and uncle to fly in for the game as well.
August 8th, 2010 at 12:12 PM |
Here's hoping Senior Denard
Here's hoping Senior Denard
Here's hoping Senior Denard and co. run rings around the Tide down in Jerryworld.
August 8th, 2010 at 12:12 PM |
Love it...
Love it...
I will be at that game even if the ticket is $100 a seat. Living down here in Houston ( a lot of Michigan fans in this area btw) I rarely get a chance to go back for a game.
Houston,TX
August 8th, 2010 at 1:08 PM |
That ticket...
That ticket...
if you get it from a scalper will be well more than $100. Sorry.
"Forty-two Big Ten Championships!"
August 9th, 2010 at 10:33 AM |
Quick question
Quick question
Quick question, I live in Houston too and I have been wondering if the Alumni bar is any good, have you by chance been?
This is interesting. Hopefully the program has improved enough by then to make it a game. Win or lose, though, it'll be more of an event than a game against another MAC team.
Does it say Deke on the paper? Are there any other Dekes in your class?